ELLA
HENRY RESIGNS: The demise of Human Rights Commissioner Ella
Henry has been welcomed by opposition politicians. Ella
Henry accused a police officer of racism after he pulled a
car she was riding in up for going through an orange light.
National Leader Jenny Shipley and ACT Leader Richard Prebble
both say they are very unhappy that it took the Government
so long to decide how to deal with the matter.

MMP
PETITION LAUNCHED: The first step has been taken to forcing
another referendum on the future of MMP. An application has
been lodged by Auckland Economist Stuart Marshall on a
petition asking whether there should be another referendum
on the shape of the system. He is confident he will get the
necessary 260,000 signatures as everyone knows it is the
right thing to do. Marshall is an ACT Party Member but they
are not involved, Peter Shirtcliffe who led an anti MMP
campaign last referendum. is bank rolling (modestly) and
mentoring the campaign leader. The National Party is helping
collect signatures.

LOCAL ELECTIONS: The nominations for
local body and DHB elections have closed with a last minute
flurry. There are 1100 positions up for grabs. An informal
survey found that there were more than enough candidates in
most elections. Some say they have slightly fewer
nominations than necessary, and most say they have less than
in 1998.

MCCARTEN STANDS FOR AUCKLAND MAYORALTY: The
President of the Alliance Matt McCarten has made a last
minute decision to stand for the Auckland Mayoralty.
McCarten said, “there would otherwise be a choice between
the dumb and the dangerous. And I think that would be pretty
bankrupt.”

SPEIGHT TRIAL – FIJI ELECTION: A treason trial
is scheduled to begin against George Speight but more legal
wrangling is expected. Speight’s defence team is expected to
seek bail for the election in which Speight is a candidate.
Meanwhile voting in a general election begins tomorrow.
Voting will take a week. Commentators do not expect former
PM and Speight Hostage Chaudhry’s party to get as many votes
this time around due to different use of preferences by
parties, and probably not the absolute majority they
received in 1999.

GARBAGE DEATHS: The deaths of two truck
staff in garbage compactors has sparked an invesitigation.
The victim moved to the back of the truck. His team mate
found him crushed, said a company spokesman. The truck has
been impounded and an investigation is underway.

ISRAELI
TANKS ATTACK HEBRON: Israeli tanks have withdrawn tanks from
Hebron after entering it to destroy two houses in
retaliation for fire on a Jewish Settlement. One soldier was
hurt and two Palestinians were killed in a battle against
the tanks. Earlier an 11 year old Israeli boy was shot by a
Palestinian sniper.

AFGHANISTAN: The International
Committee of the Red Cross are trying to confirm that they
will be allowed to visit eight foreign aid workers charged
in Afghanistan with preaching Christianity . All Taleban
offices are shut for prayers today.

FOUR MURDER ACCUSED
COMMITTED FOR TRIAL: The four accused of the murder of
Christopher Clarkson have been remanded for trial for his
murder. Much of the evidence has been suppressed.

SERIAL
RAPIST CHARGED: An Auckland man charged with three sex
attacks (in 23 charges) has been remanded in custody after
appearing in Manakau District Court. The accused has chosen
to defend himself. His wife has been charged in relation to
one of the attacks.

OPERATION ESSENTIAL HARVEST BEGINS: A
build up of troops is underway in Macedonia. Albanian rebels
are planning on handing over 2000 of an alleged 85000
weapons they hold. The decision of how many weapons is not a
matter for NATO says the UK defence Minister. Operation
“Essential Harvest” will begin in around 10 days.

EAST
TIMOR ELECTIONS: There are fears in East Timor that an
atmosphere of intimidation is building up in advance of the
elections next week. Fretilin is being accused of using
language similar to that of the Indonesians in saying that
they planned to “clean up” the country after the election.
The party claim that they only meant cleaning up trash
created during the election.

CONDIT I/V: The embattled
California congressman Garry Condit has broken his silence
on the disappearance of Chandra Levy in Washington.

LADY
LIBERTY: A Frenchman has tried to land on the Statue of
Liberty in a paraglider. The French gave the 92m high statue
to the city of New York.

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

Contact Alastair Thompson

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